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Draven
Joined: 03 Feb 2003
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 Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 6:29 pm Post subject: |
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I'm totally on the Tuna Bay bandwagon. I can't say enough about that resort without getting gushy; everything was just excellent.
Here's a link to make it easier for you:
Tuna Bay |
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coolsage
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: The overcast afternoon of the soul
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| Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2005 9:17 am Post subject: |
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| Yes, it certainly looks scenic , but the prevailing Muslim ethic that condones public whipping for those unfortunates who overstay their visas is a turnoff for me. I suppose that wouldn't apply to most of the readers of this forum. |
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The Lemon
Joined: 11 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2005 11:21 pm Post subject: |
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| coolsage wrote: |
| Yes, it certainly looks scenic , but the prevailing Muslim ethic that condones public whipping for those unfortunates who overstay their visas is a turnoff for me. I suppose that wouldn't apply to most of the readers of this forum. |
So don't overstay. You'll get somewhere between one month, three months, and six months from the Malaysians depending on your nationality, and if you get close to the time, it's a lot easier to renew it (take a $10 taxi an hour north to the Thai border) than it is if you're in Korea and need to fly to Osaka.
Really, your contact with hyper-conservative Muslims is minimal once you've left Kota Bharu on the mainland, and even there it's more interesting than threatening (my opinion). I was no more uncomfortable walking around in Kota Bharu than walking around Kwangju.
Once on the large island (as opposed to the smaller one), there are few in any Muslims. From what I could tell, most of the workers and managers on the large island are Malaysian Chinese. |
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bucheon bum
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2005 9:34 pm Post subject: |
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| coolsage wrote: |
| Yes, it certainly looks scenic , but the prevailing Muslim ethic that condones public whipping for those unfortunates who overstay their visas is a turnoff for me. I suppose that wouldn't apply to most of the readers of this forum. |
what the hell are you talking about?
and lemon, i really doubt muslims having a problem getting alcohol in KL, penang, etc. How would they enforce that kind of rule?
Anyway, malaysia is definitly worth visiting. LP made Langkawi to sound like a tourist trap, but I didn't think it was bad at all. |
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The Lemon
Joined: 11 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2005 9:50 pm Post subject: |
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| bucheon bum wrote: |
and lemon, i really doubt muslims having a problem getting alcohol in KL, penang, etc. How would they enforce that kind of rule? |
You're absolutely correct that Muslims have no practical problem getting alcohol in Malaysia. This doesn't make it legal though. Signs up at alcohol sections of every supermarket warn Muslims of prosecution. And the "religious affairs department" actively enforces this rule, with the cooperation of the civilian police.
There's a lot of controversy in Malaysia lately about that department. They recently raided some popular nightclubs in KL, separated Muslims from non-Muslims present, and reportedly humilated the Muslims by arresting them for sitting too closely to a member of the opposite sex (a crime known as "khalwat" in Malay), or for consuming alcohol. They also photographed the females that were in their view wearing revealing clothes. Many women complained of harrassing and abusive treatment from the male officials.
Many in Malaysia - particularly among the Chinese and expat communities - are openly criticizing the department for trying to turn Malaysia into Taliban-run Afghanistan, as part of an overall trend in southeast Asia (particularly in Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei ) towards increasing Islamic fundamentalism. |
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bucheon bum
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2005 10:10 pm Post subject: |
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learn something new every day. that's interesting. Rather depressing to be frank. At least some muslims are involved in trying to get rid of that kind of thing (at least that's what I gathered from your link).
There is no way Malaysia or Indonesia would turn into fundamentalist states though. As you mentioned, there is the chinese factor (as well as indian to a lesser extent) in Malaysia. The islam that has developed in their cultures is also a hell of a lot different than what you'd find in the Arab world. While yes, the arab version has made in-roads, it has a LONG way to go. I also think that the Bali blast and other terrorist acts in Indonesia hurt their cause. The recent elections in both Malaysia and Indonesia would indicate as much.
Not to digress from OP or anything.. |
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keithinkorea
Joined: 17 Mar 2004
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| Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 8:15 am Post subject: |
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Malaysia is a great place. There are some religious nuts about but they are not a proble, generally.
On my visit to Malaysia a few years ago I was fascinated by the how open the muslims were there. Very friendly and nice generally and even if they didn't drink. I hung out with quite a few who would spend time with you and have interesting conversations in bars even though they 'couldn't' drink.
The Perhentian Islands are the most awsomely beautiful place I've ever been, you can buy beer there though it is expensive. It's well worth bringing a few bottles of whiskey or vodka from the mainland.
I stayed on Perhentian Kecil aka the small island and had a wonderful time. Not just the blue green beautiful sea, not just the amazing sunsets, not just the amazing food, the fruit bats, the monitor lizards but the whole atmosphere. It is without doubt the most beautiful place I've ever visited.
Not been to Langawi but I plan to soon. It looks like a really nice place. |
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waterbaby
Joined: 01 Feb 2003
Location: Baking Gord a Cheescake pie
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| Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 10:04 pm Post subject: |
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| The Lemon wrote: |
| So, when are you guys coming to visit? |
OK, thanks guys, I'll look into Tuna Bay - I'd seen it already on the Internet - there were quite a few so didn't know which one to go for.
I'm waiting about another month to find out if funding for another project comes through and if it does, July will be busy as all hell and no time for a trip away... I'll be wrapping up a 5 month gig at the end of June so I thought a tropical break from wintery Melbourne would be a nice reward 
We've been talking for ages about coming back to Korea for a visit at Chuseok, and so we're looking at flights to Seoul via KL. From KL we can go almost anywhere if we flap those arms hard enough. So there you go, most likely September we'll be there... that's not too late? You mentioned October as the start of monsoon season... ? |
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